Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-13 · by Mark Anderson The Associated Press
In Sunday's game against New England, Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards as the Patriots eased up on their defense in the final minutes. Coach Klint Kubiak praised Mendoza’s readiness but reaffirmed that veteran Kirk Cousins remains the starter despite his strong start to the season. The article highlights Mendoza's performance in a limited, less competitive situation while noting ongoing struggles for the Raiders' defense and concerns about Cousins’ recent performance.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-13,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Sunday, Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a rookie drafted this year, made his NFL debut in a 45-17 loss against the Patriots. Despite playing only at the end of the game when it was already decided, Mendoza completed 6 out of 8 passes for 48 yards, showing promise and comfort on the field. However, head coach Klint Kubiak reiterated that starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, a 15-year veteran who has thrown 11 touchdowns through four weeks, remains atop the depth chart. The Raiders started strong with a 3-0 record but have faced criticism after their recent loss to New England. While Mendoza's performance could renew speculation about his potential role, Kubiak emphasized that Cousins' position is secure for now.
Written for “Raiders Offense Dynamics” on 2026-10-13,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza didn’t look like a rookie making his first NFL appearance in Sunday’s 45-17 loss at New England, but it also wasn’t a genuine game situation.
asserted
it → look → England
The Patriots, with victory well in hand in the game’s final minutes, mostly backed off the pass rush that hounded Las Vegas starter Kirk Cousins throughout the day.
asserted
that → back → day
Regardless, Mendoza completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards.
asserted
Mendoza → complete → yards
The top pick in this year’s draft looked quite comfortable.
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pick → look → draft
“He was prepared,” coach Klint Kubiak said Monday.
asserted
Kubiak → prepare → ?
“He played fast.
asserted
He → play → ?
He got through his progressions quickly.
asserted
He → get → progressions
He knew his hot issues.
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He → know → issues
Kubiak made it clear that Cousins still tops the depth chart, and the 15-year veteran has done little that would justify a change.
asserted
that → make → change
The Raiders got off to a 3-0 start and nearly beat Kansas City.
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Raiders → get → City
His 11 touchdown passes through the first four weeks were matched only by San Francisco’s Brock Purdy.
asserted
passes → match → Purdy
Cousins’ play had quieted just about any talk of when Mendoza would take over, but after the blowout loss to the Patriots, that speculation could begin anew, regardless of whether that’s fair to Cousins.
uncertain
that → quiet → Cousins
Mendoza took advantage of New England backing off its defensive aggression by calmly moving Las Vegas from its 35-yard line to the Patriots 14, picking up three first downs.
asserted
England → take → downs
Then the Patriots pressured Mendoza, forcing an incomplete pass and a scramble to cause a turnover on downs.
asserted
Patriots → pressure → downs
That doesn’t mean Mendoza isn’t ready to handle a pressure situation.
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Mendoza → mean → situation
“That’s why he’s here,” Kubiak said.
asserted
Kubiak → ’ → ?
“We have a lot of confidence in him.
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We → have → him
Kirk’s the starter, and if Fernando’s called upon, he’ll be ready to go just like he was (Sunday).”
asserted
he → ’ → ?
What’s working
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working → work → ?
Take away his out-of-character fumble and it was another typical Brock Bowers day.
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it → take → fumble
He caught eight passes on 10 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown.
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He → catch → yards
Buffalo’s Dalton Kincaid, a Las Vegas native, went into Monday night’s game at the Los Angeles Rams ranked second at 67.5.
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Kincaid → go → 67.5
What needs help
After the blowout loss, it seems like everything.
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it → need → everything
New England did an especially good job of attacking the Raiders’ young secondary, which had played better than expected until Sunday.
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which → do → Sunday
Drake Maye had his way for the Patriots, completing 26 of 34 passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns.
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Maye → have → yards
One defensive back who stepped up was second-year cornerback Darien Porter.
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who → step → ?
He replaced rookie Hezekiah Masses during the game and broke up two passes, recovered a fumble and made seven tackles.
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He → replace → tackles
“He’s a guy that was starting, lost his job for a week, and is so mentally tough that he came back in and played really good football yesterday and played very competitive,” Kubiak said.
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Kubiak → ’ → football
“That’s not a surprise.
asserted
That → ’ → ?
That’s the kind of guy that he is, and he’s just going to continue to get better.
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he → ’ → guy
Him and Zeke (Masses) will compete for that job.”
Stock down
Ashton Jeanty continues to struggle to run behind an offensive line that gives him little room to work.
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that → compete → room
But at least Jeanty is getting chances.
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Jeanty → get → chances
Rookie Mike Washington Jr. was expected to be a much larger part of the offense after a strong preseason and encouraging play early in the season.
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Jr. → expect → season
But he carried just once for 5 yards at New England.
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he → carry → England
“I think he just needs more opportunities, and that starts with me, too,” Kubiak said.
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Kubiak → think → me
Kubiak said he expected WR Jalen Nailor, who was in the protocol last week and did not play, back at practice.
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who → say → practice
WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. (hamstring) has two weeks before the club must decide whether to activate him off injured reserve, put him on season-ending IR or release or trade him.
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club → have → him
“We expect him to keep taking another jump,” Kubiak said.
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Kubiak → expect → jump
“So he’s got to go compete in practice and show us that he’s ready to go.
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he → get → us
It’s their worst average through the first five games in franchise history.
asserted
It → ’ → history
…and 2 more, not listed.
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